Inside a Belgian-Inspired Bathroom That's Pure Calm

A pale palette sets off dark antique furniture and a deep, comfortable tub.

Emily Gilbert

Bathtub

Belgian Style, with its enveloping neutrals accented by rustic woods, was the inspiration for the new bathroom in Susan Bednar Long's 1800 Connecticut country house. She chose honed limestone for the counter, the shower stall, and the floor because it reminded her of creamy sand and had a velvety touch. "It's porous, and maintenance can be an issue, but it's sealed so that helps," she explains. "I have a silver tray on the vanity, and that's where I put my coffee cup so it doesn't leave a ring."
The limestone tiles in the shower measure 12 by 24 inches, rather than the more common 12 by 12, so they resemble slabs of stone. On the floor, they alternate with bands of Heartwood Natural porcelain tile by Walker Zanger, which looks remarkably like limed wood but can stand up to water. "I love the rhythm and the crispness of stripes, and the bold floor is a surprise," Long says. "It makes the room feel modern."
That creates a nice counterpoint to the old-fashioned fixtures, the Jacobean-style chair, and the drop-leaf table, topped with a lamp. "Lamplight is very cozy and adds to the warmth as soon as you walk in," she says. "I like to use real furniture in a bathroom. It softens all the hard surfaces. Too many built-ins turn me off. I want to be unique and different."
BainUltra's Sanos tub offers a heated backrest and thermal massage jets. Country Bath tub filler in Polished Nickel by Rohl. Edwardian shower system by Perrin & Rowe from Rohl. Ephesus Dune limestone from Akdo. Tozai Home stool. Walls painted in Simply White, trim in Gray Mist, and vanity in Dry Sage, all by Benjamin Moore.

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